Matthew 16:28 Meaning of Some Who Are Standing Here Will Not Taste Death

Matthew 16:28
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Explanation and Commentary of Matthew 16:28

There are multiple ways in which this prediction came true. The next chapter details Jesus’ transfiguration. Many of his hearers would see the kingdom of God coming in his power over sickness, demons, and death. Most of them would see him in his glorified form after his resurrection. The kingdom of God is one of power. When we see the miraculous power of God we are seeing the in-breaking of the future heavenly kingdom.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Let your kingdom come” (Mt 6:10), and this is a powerful prayer indeed, imploring God to take authority over an area of the earth in which he has, for his own reasons, not yet taken authority “as it is in heaven.” It is a profound privilege for the Spirit-filled disciple of Jesus to continue his ministry of the kingdom and use the “keys” he has given us (Mt 16:19). The ultimate reality is that the whole of existence will come under the direct authority of God finally at the end of days when satan and death are cast into the lake of fire (Rev 20:10). In the fully come kingdom of God, there will be no death, mourning or weeping (Rev 21:4). This kingdom has been inaugurated in Jesus and has partially arrived, which is why we are to pray and to preach.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Matthew 16:28

#1 “Truly I tell you,”
Jesus’ favorite phrase used to underline the statements that follow.

#2 “some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Jesus spoke of the eminent in-breaking of the future kingdom of God. He often demonstrated what could be thought of as a taste of what is to come when the New Heavens and the New Earth come in place of the old (Rev 21:1). When he was transfigured, when he did a miracle, especially one of freedom from sickness, demonic oppression, or death, and most of all, when he rose from the dead, he fulfilled his current prediction. Jesus has ultimate power over these things because it was “his kingdom” that was coming.

Expert Overview of Matthew Ch. 14-28

Biblical Translations of Matthew 16:28

NIV
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

NLT
“And I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom.”

ESV
“Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

KJV
“Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.”

NKJV
“Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”